
I’ve been juggling between maintaining a blog, battling my disastrous work in office, fending off bitches who try to claw me, tend to my little family, as well as writing a novel with at least 50,000 words to answer NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge til the wee hours. And at 25th November 2008, I went to validate my manuscript, and this is what I get. I know I did not get money, but I get satisfaction out of this. Okay, call me a nutcase, I don’t mind. I’m too happy to bother anyway, even though I’m still not feeling so well. I can be proud this year, because I did not cheat my word count at all. Here’s what I get:

NaNoWriMo 2008 Winner Certificate- Awarded to novelist who manage to write at least 50,000 words novel in one month time, which is from 1st November 2008-30th November 2008.
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And since I am also a member of NaNoWriMo Young Writers program, I get another bonus certificate. Cute one at that. (I’m considered a part of NaNoWriMo YWP Program as an educator, as I have students under my charge who participate in this program)

NaNoWriMo 2008 Certificate for Young Writers Program- Certificate awarded to children and educators alike for achieving their goals to write a novel in one month time.
On top of that, I also get a couple of web badges to boast about. LOL. I had not wanted to boast, but what the hell, I went through a gruesome month, let me boast a bit. Hahaha.

And another set of badges:

And the young writers program badge winner’s badge:

Some may say that I’ve been doing a completely stupid and useless thing throughout the whole November, answering the NaNoWriMo challenge, because I will not be awarded in the form of cash or material possession, but I have learn a lot throughout the November, which is discovering a part of me that I never knew could actually exist, which is SELF DISCIPLINE. I manage to sit down at the same time each night and write an average of 2,000 words per night for my novel. This is actually a miracle for me, because I really do lack discipline. I’m not sure what actually motivates me to do so, because I know that there is no way I’ll be able to do such thing when I was in school or high school. Discipline was never my middle name. My parents would have to actually force me to sit down and study every night when I was younger. ( My father tutored me personally when I was in primary and secondary school)
I guess, when one is not forced to do something, the rebellious streak kinda fade, and such thing is made possible. Let me ask you guys a question- Why do some people read and write more when they are out of school, college or university? You see, you guys blog and read articles and google most of the time-that alone is reading and writing. Why do people crave to study when they are already adult?
I think the answer is quite simple. It’s because they are no longer being forced to do those things anymore. Adults who continued to pursue education even though they are already having a stable career do such thing because they are motivated by the environment-where the working world require them to be more educated and more skillful. They also further study knowing full well they they would no longer be judge by parents or teachers or be punished if they failed to pass their examination that they decided to take. So the kind of stress and pressure that they get when they were younger is definitely not there. It’s easier to achieve when you know that judgment would not be delivered upon you even if you failed badly. One would strive better if they do things willingly and less is expected of them.
If only our education system does not forced our children to be overachievers, I daresay that they would be easier to handled as they will be more open minded and would think outside of the box constantly. They would be more alert to their environment and enjoy learning better. Forcing children to study instead of letting them study at their own accord own accord could actually restrict them from really achieving in a full-rounded way, that, I must say. I can only wish that our education system could coax children into motivating themselves and study voluntarily so that they could achieve better.
With NaNoWriMo, I also learn to not procrastinate. Oh yes, yours truly is a Procrastination Queen. I keep deferring things that I have to do to a later time most of the time, and ended up not doing it all all. I’m very good at doing that. This November, I procrastinate less, thanks to self motivation and pep talks from professional authors all over the world.
But all is not good in NaNo World. At least, not in Malaysia. I learn that most do not really understand what is NaNoWriMo is really all about.
Most just joined in the fun so that they could join TGIO( Thank God It’s Over) Party held on 5th December every year, where they could go wild and bitch around to their heart’s content. NaNoWriMo in Malaysia is pretty much adult oriented, and I am very, very disappointed to discover that. There are lack activities for minor. Even write-ins event are done at classy place like Starbucks and shopping malls where parents would definitely won’t let their young children go without supervision. This year, TGIO party will be held at Centro, KL Central where it’s actually a restaurant/bar/club lounge. Convincing parents to let their kids on loose there alone would be a problem, so thank you very much, I’m not going and not bringing my students there.
Dissapointing to the very core really. When I asked the person in charge about this, I was told off in a rather pompous manner that they know what they are doing and was told to shut up because they are very experienced in doing whatever they are doing. They are not open to suggestion, criticisms or even mere opinion. Some newcomers are told off in a rather conceited way, but, Malaysian, being Malaysian, really do love to bootlick those who have powers and bitchy. Plagiarism is also taken very lightly in NaNoWriMo Malaysia.
I guess politics are everywhere. I’m really disgusted to see such things- with the way certain authors/novelist behave, anyone would automatically labeled all authors in Malaysia as ‘bitchy group of people’ instead the ‘creative and friendly’ type of people.
The Municipal Liaison for Malaysia region somehow succeed in making NaNoWriMo event every year a ‘classy’ and ‘high class’ event, where there would be fund-raising and parties at bars and pubs, but definitely failed to make NaNoWriMo’s ORIGINAL purpose (which is to EDUCATE) to be really known to the public as there are no attempts made to approach the media to advertise such activities. They just can’t get a grip at it that the whole thing is about encouraging people, adults, teenagers and children alike to be involved in writing line and reading more.
Cleffairy: I really do hope NaNoWriMo in Malaysia region could change for the better and stick to the original purpose which is encourage people to read and write, but I guess I am hoping too much out of Malaysians. Another thing that ‘Tak Boleh’ in Malaysia is asking people to stop bitching around and start educating and learning.
Ps: I may have won NaNoWriMo 2008 challenge, but in truth, I have not won my own challenge, which is to complete the whole novel. Hitting 50,000 words is very easy, but finishing a novel is not. Wish me luck.
And special message to Aunt Iris who is so concern for my health. Don’t worry Aunt Iris, give me a few days, and I will be as right as rain. I’m not sure if you received my second email or not, because your jaring mailbox is full. So just a short note to let you know that I’m all right. Will keep in touch with you, so you take care too.
😀